S72-35016 (1971) --- Astronaut Thomas P. Stafford

S65-14550 (26 Feb. 1965) --- Astronaut Thomas P. Stafford, the pilot of the Gemini-Titan 3 backup crew, is shown during suiting operations at Pad 16 at Cape Kennedy, Florida.

S66-32149 (3 June 1966) --- Astronauts Thomas P. Stafford (foreground), command pilot, and Eugene A. Cernan, pilot, walk up the ramp at Pad 19 during the Gemini-9A prelaunch countdown. Photo credit: NASA

S75-25823 (February 1975) --- Cosmonaut Aleksei A. Leonov (left) and astronaut Thomas P. Stafford display the Apollo Soyuz Test Project (ASTP) commemorative plaque. The two commanders, of their respective crews, are in the Apollo Command Module (CM) trainer at Building 35 at NASA's Johnson Space Center (JSC). Two plaques divided into four quarters each will be flown on the ASTP mission. The American ASTP Apollo crew will carry the four United States quarter pieces aboard Apollo; and the Soviet ASTP Soyuz 19 crew will carry the four USSR quarter sections aboard Soyuz. The eight quarter pieces will be joined together to form two complete commemorative plaques after the two spacecraft rendezvous and dock in Earth orbit. One complete plaque then will be returned to Earth by the astronauts; and the other complete plaque will be brought back by the cosmonauts. The plaque is written in both English and Russian. The Apollo crew will consist of astronauts Thomas P. Stafford, commander; Donald K. "Deke" Slayton, docking module pilot; Vance D. Brand, command module pilot. The Soyuz 19 crew will consist of cosmonauts Aleksei A. Leonov, command pilot; and Valeri N. Kubasov, flight engineer.

S65-43954 (23 Aug. 1965) --- Astronaut Thomas P. Stafford, Gemini-6 prime crew pilot, climbs out of a boilerplate model of a Gemini spacecraft during water egress training in the Gulf of Mexico. A NASA swimmer in the water nearby assists in the exercise.

S65-51958 (23 Aug. 1965) --- Astronaut Thomas P. Stafford, Gemini-6 prime crew pilot, sails over Galveston Bay during parasail training. His water survival gear hangs below him. Photo credit: NASA or National Aeronautics and Space Administration

S69-34385 (13 May 1969) --- These three astronauts are the prime crew of the Apollo 10 lunar orbit mission. Left to right, are Eugene A. Cernan, lunar module pilot; John W. Young, command module pilot; and Thomas P. Stafford, commander. In the background is the Apollo 10 space vehicle on Pad B, Launch Complex 39, Kennedy Space Center, Florida.

S65-61806 (15 Dec. 1965) --- Astronaut Thomas P. Stafford, Gemini-6 prime crew pilot, is seen through spacecraft window as he awaits the remaining minutes of the Gemini-6 prelaunch countdown. A two-day mission in space was scheduled for astronauts Stafford and Walter M. Schirra Jr. (out of frame), command pilot. NASA successfully launched Gemini-6 from Pad 19 at 8:37 a.m. (EST) on Dec. 15, 1965. An attempt will be made to rendezvous Gemini-6 with Gemini-7. Photo credit: NASA or National Aeronautics and Space Administration

S66-23592 (8 Feb. 1966) --- Astronaut Thomas P. Stafford, command pilot of the Gemini-9 prime crew, undergoes familiarization training with the Gemini-9 spacecraft at the McDonnell plant in St. Louis. Photo credit: NASA

S66-32044 (17 May 1966) --- Astronauts Eugene A. Cernan (left), pilot, and Thomas P. Stafford, command pilot, discuss the postponed Gemini-9 mission just after egressing their spacecraft in the white room atop Pad 19. The Agena Target Vehicle failed to achieve orbit, causing a termination of the mission. The spaceflight (to be called Gemini-9A) has been rescheduled for May 31. A Gemini Augmented Target Docking Adapter will be used as the rendezvous and docking vehicle for the Gemini-9 spacecraft. Photo credit: NASA

S65-59977 (15 Dec. 1965) --- Astronauts Thomas P. Stafford (foreground), Gemini-6 prime crew pilot; and Alan B. Shepard Jr., chief, Astronaut Office, Manned Spacecraft Center, look over a Gemini mission chart in the suiting trailer at Launch Complex 16 during the Gemini-6 prelaunch countdown at Cape Kennedy, Florida. Photo credit: NASA or National Aeronautics and Space Administration

S65-43971 (23 Aug. 1965) --- Astronaut Thomas P. Stafford, Gemini-6 prime crew pilot, is pictured onboard the NASA Motor Vessel Retriever in the Gulf of Mexico during water egress training. Astronaut Walter M. Schirra Jr. (out of frame), prime crew command pilot, also took part in the training.

S65-59961 (15 Dec. 1965) --- Astronaut Thomas P. Stafford, pilot, is pictured in the Gemini-6 spacecraft in the White Room atop Pad 19 prior to the closing of the hatches during the Gemini-6 prelaunch countdown. In the background (partially out of view) is astronaut Walter M. Schirra Jr., command pilot. Photo credit: NASA or National Aeronautics and Space Administration

S65-51948 (23 Aug. 1965) --- Astronaut Thomas P. Stafford, Gemini-6 prime crew pilot, stands ready to take part in parasail training in Galveston Bay, Texas. Wearing spacesuit, helmet and carrying water survival gear, he will be lifted into the air by a deployed parachute and guided over the Bay where he will drop into the water to test airdrop and water survival techniques. Photo credit: NASA or National Aeronautics and Space Administration

S66-34060 (3 June 1966) --- Astronaut Thomas P. Stafford, Gemini-9A prime crew command pilot, adjusts a sleeve of his spacesuit during suiting up procedures at Launch Complex 16, Kennedy Space Center. The Gemini-9A liftoff was at 8:39 a.m. (EST), June 3, 1966. Photo credit: NASA

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - The Stafford-Covey Return to Flight Task Group (SCTG) inspects debris in the Columbia Debris Hangar. At right is the model of the left wing that has been used during recovery operations. Chairing the task group are Richard O. Covey, former Space Shuttle commander, and Thomas P. Stafford (third from right, foreground), Apollo commander. Chartered by NASA Administrator Sean O’Keefe, the task group will perform an independent assessment of NASA’s implementation of the final recommendations by the Columbia Accident Investigation Board.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In the Columbia Debris Hangar, members of the Stafford-Covey Return to Flight Task Group (SCTG) look at tiles recovered. Chairing the task group are Richard O. Covey, former Space Shuttle commander, and Thomas P. Stafford (center), Apollo commander. Chartered by NASA Administrator Sean O’Keefe, the task group will perform an independent assessment of NASA’s implementation of the final recommendations by the Columbia Accident Investigation Board.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - As the Stafford-Covey Return to Flight Task Group (SCTG) tours the Orbiter Processing Facility, Richard O. Covey (second from left), former Space Shuttle commander, points to equipment. Covey is co-chair of the SCTG along with Thomas P. Stafford, Apollo commander. Others in the photo are William Wegner, James Adamson and Joe Engle. Chartered by NASA Administrator Sean O’Keefe, the task group will perform an independent assessment of NASA’s implementation of the final recommendations by the Columbia Accident Investigation Board.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - The Stafford-Covey Return to Flight Task Group (SCTG) visits the Columbia Debris Hangar . Chairing the task group are Richard O. Covey (third from right), former Space Shuttle commander, and Thomas P. Stafford (fourth from right), Apollo commander. Chartered by NASA Administrator Sean O’Keefe, the task group will perform an independent assessment of NASA’s implementation of the final recommendations by the Columbia Accident Investigation Board.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In the Columbia Debris Hangar, Shuttle Launch Director Mike Leinbach (left) talks to members of the Stafford-Covey Return to Flight Task Group (SCTG) about reconstruction efforts. Chairing the task group are Richard O. Covey (second from right), former Space Shuttle commander, and Thomas P. Stafford, Apollo commander. Chartered by NASA Administrator Sean O’Keefe, the task group will perform an independent assessment of NASA’s implementation of the final recommendations by the Columbia Accident Investigation Board.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In the Columbia Debris Hangar, Shuttle Launch Director Mike Leinbach answers questions from the Stafford-Covey Return to Flight Task Group (SCTG). Chairing the task group are Richard O. Covey (fifth from left), former Space Shuttle commander, and Thomas P. Stafford, Apollo commander. Chartered by NASA Administrator Sean O’Keefe, the task group will perform an independent assessment of NASA’s implementation of the final recommendations by the Columbia Accident Investigation Board.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - In the Columbia Debris Hangar, members of the Stafford-Covey Return to Flight Task Group (SCTG) inspect some of the debris. Chairing the task group are Richard O. Covey, former Space Shuttle commander, and Thomas P. Stafford (fourth from left), Apollo commander. Chartered by NASA Administrator Sean O’Keefe, the task group will perform an independent assessment of NASA’s implementation of the final recommendations by the Columbia Accident Investigation Board.

S69-32618 (April 1969) --- Astronaut Thomas P. Stafford, prime crew commander of the Apollo 10 lunar orbit mission.

S66-15994 (1966) --- Portrait of astronaut Thomas P. Stafford, wearing his spacesuit. Photo credit: NASA

S69-30252 (27 March 1969) --- Astronaut Thomas P. Stafford, wearing a protective hat, participates in pad egress training at the Kennedy Space Center's Pad 39B during preparations for the scheduled Apollo 10 lunar orbit mission. Stafford is the Apollo 10 commander.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - On a tour of the Orbiter Processing Facility, members of the Stafford-Covey Return to Flight Task Group (RTFTG) look at a Reinforced Carbon-Carbon panels with a T-seal held by Tom Roberts, with United Space Alliance. From left are Richard O. Covey, former Space Shuttle commander, Dr. Kathryn Clark, James Adamson, Joe Engle, William Wegner and Dr. Amy Donahue. Chairing the task group are Covey and Thomas P. Stafford, Apollo commander. Chartered by NASA Administrator Sean O’Keefe, the task group will perform an independent assessment of NASA’s implementation of the final recommendations by the Columbia Accident Investigation Board.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Members of the Stafford-Covey Return to Flight Task Group (SCTG) look over equipment in the Orbiter Processing Facility. At left (back to camera), Fernando Santos, with NASA, and Paul Ogletree (at monitor), with United Space Alliance, describe how flash thermography is used to inspect the structure of Reinforced Carbon Carbon panels and establish a baseline on panels before flight. Chairing the task group are Richard O. Covey (far right), former Space Shuttle commander, and Thomas P. Stafford, Apollo commander. Chartered by NASA Administrator Sean O’Keefe, the task group will perform an independent assessment of NASA’s implementation of the final recommendations by the Columbia Accident Investigation Board.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - Martin Wilson, with United Space Alliance, describes an orbiter’s Thermal Protection System for members of the Stafford-Covey Return to Flight Task Group (SCTG). Handling some of the blanket insulation are Dr. Kathryn Clark and Joe Engle. Third from left is Richard Covey, former Space Shuttle commander, who is co-chair of the SCTG, along with Thomas P. Stafford, Apollo commander. Chartered by NASA Administrator Sean O’Keefe, the task group will perform an independent assessment of NASA’s implementation of the final recommendations by the Columbia Accident Investigation Board.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - NASA worker Joy Huff (right) shows a leading edge subsystems (LESS) with tile bonded to it to members of the Stafford-Covey Return to Flight Task Group (SCTG). From left are Dr. Amy Donahue, David Lengyel, Dr. Kathryn Clark, Richard Covey, former Space Shuttle commander, and William Wegner. Covey is co-chair of the SCTG along with Thomas P. Stafford, Apollo commander. Chartered by NASA Administrator Sean O’Keefe, the task group will perform an independent assessment of NASA’s implementation of the final recommendations by the Columbia Accident Investigation Board.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - On a tour of the Tile Shop, members of the Stafford-Covey Return to Flight Task Group (SCTG) learn about PU-tiles, part of an orbiter’s Thermal Protection System. At left is Martin Wilson, with United Space Alliance. Others (left to right) around the table are James Adamson, Dr. Kathryn Clark, William Wegner, Richard Covey and Joe Engle. Covey, former Space Shuttle commander, is co-chair of the SCTG, along with Thomas P. Stafford, Apollo commander. Chartered by NASA Administrator Sean O’Keefe, the task group will perform an independent assessment of NASA’s implementation of the final recommendations by the Columbia Accident Investigation Board.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - On a tour of the Orbiter Processing Facility, members of the Stafford-Covey Return to Flight Task Group (SCTG) look at one of the Reinforced Carbon-Carbon panels, being shown by Tom Roberts with United Space Alliance, from the orbiter Endeavour. Chairing the task group are Richard O. Covey, former Space Shuttle commander, and Thomas P. Stafford, Apollo commander. Chartered by NASA Administrator Sean O’Keefe, the task group will perform an independent assessment of NASA’s implementation of the final recommendations by the Columbia Accident Investigation Board.

Apollo Soyuz Test Project (ASTP) astronauts Donald K. Slayton, docking module pilot; and Thomas P. Stafford, commander are photographed during ASTP Russian language class.

S66-15621 (January 1966) --- Gemini-9 prime crew portrait with astronauts Thomas P. Stafford (left), command pilot, and Eugene A. Cernan, pilot. Photo credit: NASA

S66-34051 (3 June 1966) --- Astronauts Thomas P. Stafford and Eugene A. Cernan arrive in the White Room atop Pad 19 at the Kennedy Space Center in preparation for the launch of the Gemini-9 spaceflight. Photo credit: NASA

S66-34124 (6 June 1966) --- Astronauts Eugene A. Cernan and Thomas P. Stafford sit with their Gemini 9A spacecraft hatches open while awaiting the arrival of the recovery ship U.S.S. Wasp.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. --Apollo 10 astronaut Thomas P. Stafford is assisted in being suited up prior to the Countdown Demonstration Test, a full dress rehearsal.

S66-32144 (2 June 1966) --- Astronauts Thomas P. Stafford (right) and Eugene A. Cernan look over pictures of the lunar surface taken by Surveyor I. Photo credit: NASA

S66-38082 (3 June 1966) --- Astronaut Eugene A. Cernan, pilot of the Gemini-9A spaceflight, is photographed inside the spacecraft by the command pilot, astronaut Thomas P. Stafford during the flight. Photo credit: NASA

S65-66744 (15 Dec. 1965) --- Insertion of astronauts Walter M. Schirra Jr. (foreground) and Thomas P. Stafford into Gemini-6 spacecraft prior to launch. Photo credit: NASA or National Aeronautics and Space Administration

S69-32036 (26 April 1969) --- Astronaut Thomas P. Stafford, commander of the Apollo 10 prime crew, is seen at a press conference held at the Manned Spacecraft Center on April 26, 1969.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- Apollo 10 Flight Crew Training. From left re Lunar Module Pilot Eugene A. Cernan, Commander Thomas P. Stafford and Command Module Pilot John w. Young.

S64-19432 (13 April 1964) --- Left to right are astronauts John W. Young, Virgil I. Grissom, Walter M. Schirra Jr. and Thomas P. Stafford. Gemini III crew assignments are as follows: Grissom, command pilot; Young, pilot, on the prime crew, with Schirra (command pilot) and Stafford (pilot) serving as alternates. EDITOR'S NOTE: For the Gemini-Titan VI mission, Grissom and Young served as backups for Schirra and Stafford.

S66-34075 (3 June 1966) --- Prime crew for the Gemini-9A spaceflight, astronauts Thomas P. Stafford (front), command pilot, and Eugene A. Cernan, pilot, leave the suiting trailer at Launch Complex 16 in full spacesuits during prelaunch countdown. Photo credit: NASA

S65-56155 (15 Dec. 1965) --- Astronauts Thomas P. Stafford, pilot; and Walter M. Schirra Jr., command pilot, are readied for insertion into the Gemini-6 spacecraft in the White Room at Pad 19, Cape Canaveral, Florida. Photo credit: NASA or National Aeronautics and Space Administration

AST-06-344 (15-24 July 1975) --- Two American ASTP crewmen, astronauts Thomas P. Stafford (foreground) and Vance D. Brand are seen in the Apollo Command Module during the joint U.S.-USSR Apollo-Soyuz Test Project docking mission in Earth orbit. This picture was taken with a 35mm camera.

S66-38080 (3 June 1966) --- Astronaut Thomas P. Stafford, command pilot of the Gemini-9A spaceflight, is photographed during the Gemini-9A mission inside the spacecraft by astronaut Eugene Cernan, Gemini-9A pilot. Photo credit: NASA

S65-56151 (October 1965) --- Gemini-6 astronauts Thomas P. Stafford (left), pilot, and Walter M. Schirra Jr., command pilot, are shown during suiting up exercises at Cape Kennedy, Florida. Photo credit: NASA or National Aeronautics and Space Administration

S65-56177 (1965) --- Gemini-6 astronauts Walter M. Schirra Jr., command pilot, and Thomas P. Stafford, pilot, check out the spacecraft during a simulated test at Launch Complex 19 at Cape Canaveral, Florida. Photo credit: NASA or National Aeronautics and Space Administration

S65-10118 (1 Feb. 1965) --- The Gemini-6 prime crew, astronauts Walter M. Schirra Jr. (in water), command pilot; and Thomas P. Stafford (on spacecraft), pilot, are pictured during water egress training at Ellington Air Force Base, Texas. Photo credit: NASA or National Aeronautics and Space Administration

S65-56159 (15 Dec. 1965) --- Astronauts Walter M. Schirra Jr. (left), command pilot, and Thomas P. Stafford, pilot, look at a cartoon presented to them by the other astronauts on the morning of the scheduled Gemini-6 launch. Photo credit: NASA or National Aeronautics and Space Administration

S66-33406 (10 May 1966) --- Astronaut Thomas P. Stafford (on left), command pilot, and Eugene A. Cernan, pilot, in Gemini-9 spacecraft in the white room at Pad 19 during a Gemini-9/Agena simultaneous launch demonstration. This test is a coordinated dountdown of the Atlas-Agena and the Gemini-Titan vehicles. Photo credit: NASA

S68-42906 (13 Nov. 1968) --- NASA has named these three astronauts as the prime crew of the Apollo 10 space mission. Left to right are Eugene A. Cernan, lunar module pilot; John W. Young, command module pilot; and Thomas P. Stafford, commander.

S68-41683 (August 1968) --- Three astronauts participate in Apollo water egress training in a tank in Building 260 at the Manned Spacecraft Center. Already in life raft is John W. Young. Eugene A. Cernan is egressing the Apollo Command Module trainer. Inside the trainer and almost obscured is Thomas P. Stafford.

S65-13920 (15 Jan. 1965) --- The Gemini-6 prime crew, astronauts Walter M. Schirra Jr. (left), command pilot, and Thomas P. Stafford, pilot, are pictured in the Gemini simulator during training exercises at the Mission Control Center at Cape Kennedy, Florida. Photo credit: NASA or National Aeronautics and Space Administration

S65-13921 (1965) --- Overhead view of astronauts Walter M. Schirra Jr. (foreground), backup command pilot, and Thomas P. Stafford, backup pilot, as they prepare to run Gemini-Titan 3 simulations in the Gemini mission simulator in the Mission Control Center at Merritt Island, Florida.

S66-34057 (3 June 1966) --- Fisheye view of astronauts Thomas P. Stafford and Eugene A. Cernan in the Gemini-9 spacecraft while hatches are sealed. They are in the White Room atop Pad 19 at the Kennedy Space Center. Photo credit: NASA

S66-34055 (3 June 1966) --- Fisheye camera lens view of the white room atop Pad 19 during the insertion of astronauts Thomas P. Stafford and Eugene A. Cernan into the Gemini-9A spacecraft. Minutes later the hatches were sealed on the spacecraft in preparation for launch of the proposed three-day mission. Photo credit: NASA

S68-15979 (15 Jan. 1968) --- Astronaut John W. Young, command module pilot, inside the Command Module Simulator in Building 5 during an Apollo Simulation. Out of view are astronaut Thomas P. Stafford (on the left), commander; and astronaut Eugene A. Cernan (on the right), lunar module pilot.

S65-56187 (20 Oct. 1965) --- Astronaut Thomas P. Stafford, pilot of the Gemini-Titan-Agena 6 space mission, undergoes suiting up exercises at the Kennedy Space Center, Florida. Photo credit: NASA or National Aeronautics and Space Administration

S68-41685 (August 1968) --- Three astronauts participate in Apollo water egress training in a tank in Building 260 at the Manned Spacecraft Center. Egressing the Apollo Command Module trainer is Thomas P. Stafford. Already in life raft are Eugene A. Cernan (in foreground) and John W. Young.

S66-34559 (17 May 1966) --- Astronauts Thomas P. Stafford (left), command pilot, and Eugene A. Cernan, pilot, walk away from Pad 19 after the Gemini-9 mission was postponed. Failure of the Agena Target Vehicle to achieve orbit caused the postponement of the mission. Photo credit: NASA

S65-56123 (1 Oct. 1965) --- Astronauts Thomas P. Stafford (left), pilot; and Walter M. Schirra Jr., command pilot, the prime crew of the Gemini-6 spaceflight, are pictured during a suiting up training exercise at Cape Kennedy, Florida. Photo credit: NASA or National Aeronautics and Space Administration

S68-15952 (15 Jan. 1968) --- Three astronauts inside the Command Module Simulator in Building 5 during an Apollo Simulation. Left to right, are astronauts Thomas P. Stafford, commander; John W. Young, command module pilot; and Eugene A. Cernan, lunar module pilot.

S69-34969 (24 May 1969) --- Astronaut Thomas P. Stafford, Apollo 10 commander, is seen in this color reproduction taken from a telecast made by the color television camera aboard the Apollo 10 spacecraft during its trans-Earth journey home.

S64-40298 (24 Nov. 1964) --- Astronauts John W. Young, Walter M. Schirra Jr., Thomas P. Stafford and Virgil I. Grissom (left to right) are shown during egress training during Gemini-Titan 3 simulation launch at Pad 19.

AST-05-301 (17-19 July 1975) --- Astronaut Donald K. Slayton, cosmonaut Aleksey A. Leonov and astronaut Thomas P. Stafford are photographed in the Soviet Soyuz during the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project docking mission in Earth orbit. This picture was taken with a 35mm camera.

S69-32613 (April 1969) --- The prime crew of the Apollo 10 lunar orbit mission sits for photograph while at the Kennedy Space Center for preflight training. Left to right are astronauts Eugene A. Cernan, lunar module pilot; Thomas P. Stafford, commander; and John W. Young, command module pilot.

AST-05-296 (17-19 July 1975) --- Astronaut Thomas P. Stafford (left) and cosmonaut Aleksey A. Leonov are photographed together in the Soyuz Orbital Module during the joint U.S.-USSR Apollo-Soyuz Test Project docking mission in Earth orbit. They are respective commanders of their crews. This picture was taken with a 35mm camera.

S65-56188 (20 Oct. 1965) --- Astronauts Thomas P. Stafford (left), pilot, and Walter M. Schirra Jr., command pilot, pose during a suiting up exercise in preparation for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Gemini-6 two-day mission. Photo credit: NASA

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Lt. Gen. Thomas P. Stafford, former astronaut and Air Force test pilot, stands near space shuttle Atlantis inside the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Stafford flew two Gemini missions, commanded Apollo 10 and commanded the Apollo-Soyuz test mission during his NASA career. Photo credit: NASA/Frankie Martin

S66-33408 (10 May 1966) --- Astronaut Thomas P. Stafford, command pilot of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Gemini-9 spaceflight, sits in Launch Complex 16 suiting trailer while suiting up for a Gemini-9/Agena simultaneous launch demonstration. This test is a coordinated countdown of the Atlas-Agena and the Gemini-Titan vehicles. A suit technician assists Stafford. Photo credit: NASA

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Lt. Gen. Thomas P. Stafford, former astronaut and Air Force test pilot, looks over space shuttle Endeavour in Orbiter Processing Facility-2 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Stafford flew two Gemini missions, commanded Apollo 10 and commanded the Apollo-Soyuz test mission during his NASA career. Photo credit: NASA/Frankie Martin

S69-34337 (6 May 1969) --- Apollo 10 astronauts John W. Young (left), command module pilot; and Thomas P. Stafford, commander, leave the Kennedy Space Center's (KSC) Manned Spacecraft Operations Building for Pad B, Launch Complex 39, where they participated in dry portion of Countdown Demonstration Test. Apollo 10, with astronauts Stafford, Young and Eugene A. Cernan aboard, is scheduled for launch on May 13, 1969. Cernan is the lunar module pilot.

S75-21892 (20 Feb. 1975) --- Astronaut Thomas P. Stafford (left) and cosmonaut Aleksey A. Leonov participate in Apollo-Soyuz Test Project joint crew training in Building 35 at NASA's Johnson Space Center. Stafford and Leonov are the commanders of their respective prime crews. They are in the Soviet Soyuz Orbital Module mock-up. This picture was taken during a ?walk-through? of the second day?s activities in Earth orbit.

S65-19406 (6 April 1965) --- Astronauts Thomas P. Stafford (left), pilot; and Walter M. Schirra Jr., command pilot, have been named as the prime crew for the Gemini-Titan 6 spaceflight. Schirra and Stafford served as the GT-3 backup crew. Their selection for the GT-6 flight was announced at an MSC news conference on April 6, 1965.

S66-32677 (10 June 1966) --- The Gemini-9A prime crew, astronaut Thomas P. Stafford (left), command pilot, and Eugene A. Cernan (right), pilot, express their feelings about being home to their families, MSC officials, newsmen, and well-wishers gathered at Ellington Air Force Base to welcome the astronauts home. Astronaut Stafford and Cernan completed their three-day mission in space on June 6, 1966. At right is George M. Low, MSC Deputy Director. Photo credit: NASA

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Lt. Gen. Thomas P. Stafford, former astronaut and Air Force test pilot, stands near space shuttle Atlantis inside the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Stafford flew two Gemini missions, commanded Apollo 10 and commanded the Apollo-Soyuz test mission during his NASA career. Photo credit: NASA/Frankie Martin

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Lt. Gen. Thomas P. Stafford, former astronaut and Air Force test pilot, stands near the Astrovan and space shuttle Atlantis inside the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Stafford flew two Gemini missions, commanded Apollo 10 and commanded the Apollo-Soyuz test mission during his NASA career. Photo credit: NASA/Frankie Martin

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Lt. Gen. Thomas P. Stafford, former astronaut and Air Force test pilot, stands near the Astrovan and space shuttle Atlantis inside the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Stafford flew two Gemini missions, commanded Apollo 10 and commanded the Apollo-Soyuz test mission during his NASA career. Photo credit: NASA/Frankie Martin

S75-21945 (24 Feb. 1975) --- Cosmonaut Aleksey A. Leonov (left) and astronaut Thomas P. Stafford take part in Apollo-Soyuz Test Project joint crew training in Building 35 at NASA's Johnson Space Center. They are commanders of their respective prime crews. The training session simulated the activities of the second day in Earth orbit. Stafford and Leonov are in the Docking Module mock-up.

S75-29432 (17 July 1975) --- Astronaut Thomas P. Stafford (in foreground) and cosmonaut Aleksei A. Leonov make their historic handshake in space on July 17, 1975 during the joint U.S.-USSR Apollo Soyuz Test Project (ASTP) docking mission in Earth orbit. This picture was reproduced from a frame of 16mm motion picture film. The American and Soviet spacecraft were joined together in space for approximately 47 hours on July 17th, 18th, 19th, 1975. The Apollo crew consisted of astronauts Thomas P. Stafford, commander; Donald K. "Deke" Slayton, docking module pilot; Vance D. Brand, command module pilot. The Soyuz 19 crew consisted of cosmonauts Aleksei A. Leonov, command pilot; and Valeri N. Kubasov, flight engineer.

AST-03-191 (17-19 July 1975) --- Astronaut Thomas P. Stafford and cosmonaut Aleksei A. Leonov are seen at the hatchway leading from the Apollo Docking Module (DM) to the Soyuz Orbital Module (OM) during the joint U.S.-USSR Apollo Soyuz Test Project (ASTP) docking mission in Earth orbit. Cosmonaut Leonov is in the OM and astronaut Stafford is in the DM. Leonov holds a camera. The Apollo crew consisted of astronauts Stafford, commander; Donald K. "Deke" Slayton, docking module pilot; Vance D. Brand, command module pilot. The Soyuz 19 crew consisted of cosmonauts Leonov, command pilot; and Valeri N. Kubasov, flight engineer.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - The Return To Flight Task Group (RTFTG) holds its first public meeting at the Debus Center, KSC Visitor Complex. The group is co-chaired by former Shuttle commander Richard O. Covey and retired Air Force Lt. Gen. Thomas P. Stafford, who was an Apollo commander. The RTFTG was at KSC to conduct organizational activities, tour Space Shuttle facilities and receive briefings on Shuttle-related topics. The task group was chartered by NASA Administrator Sean O’Keefe to perform an independent assessment of NASA’s implementation of the final recommendations of the Columbia Accident Investigation Board.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - The news media capture the words and images of the Return To Flight Task Group (RTFTG) which held its first public meeting at the Debus Center, KSC Visitor Complex. The group is co-chaired by former Shuttle commander Richard O. Covey and retired Air Force Lt. Gen. Thomas P. Stafford, who was an Apollo commander. The RTFTG was at KSC to conduct organizational activities, tour Space Shuttle facilities and receive briefings on Shuttle-related topics. The task group was chartered by NASA Administrator Sean O’Keefe to perform an independent assessment of NASA’s implementation of the final recommendations of the Columbia Accident Investigation Board.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. - The Return To Flight Task Group (RTFTG) holds its first public meeting at the Debus Center, KSC Visitor Complex. The group is co-chaired by former Shuttle commander Richard O. Covey and retired Air Force Lt. Gen. Thomas P. Stafford, who was an Apollo commander. The RTFTG was at KSC to conduct organizational activities, tour Space Shuttle facilities and receive briefings on Shuttle-related topics. The task group was chartered by NASA Administrator Sean O’Keefe to perform an independent assessment of NASA’s implementation of the final recommendations of the Columbia Accident Investigation Board.

S65-61913 (12 Dec. 1965) --- Astronaut Thomas P. Stafford, pilot, makes a facial gesture at the camera while suiting up in Launch Complex 16 trailer during Gemini-6 prelaunch countdown. NASA has planned a two-day mission in space for astronauts Stafford and Walter M. Schirra Jr. (out of frame), command pilot. An attempt was made to launch Gemini-6 from Pad 19 at 9:54 a.m. (EST) on Dec. 12, 1965. However, seconds after ignition, the first stage engine of the Gemini-6 launch vehicle shutdown due to a faulty release of a liftoff umbilical plug. Photo credit: NASA or National Aeronautics and Space Administration

S69-34077 (19 May 1969) --- Astronaut Thomas P. Stafford (left) gives a graphic example of conditions in a weightless environment by literally holding astronaut John W. Young up by the head in this color reproduction taken from the fourth telecast made by the color television camera aboard the Apollo 10 spacecraft. When this picture was made the Apollo 10 spacecraft was about halfway to the moon, or approximately 112,000 nautical miles from Earth. Stafford is the Apollo 10 commander and Young is the command module pilot. Also, aboard Apollo 10 was astronaut Eugene A. Cernan, lunar module pilot.

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- The May 18 launch date for the Apollo 10 mission is now little more than a month away for its prime crew, shown here at Complex 39's Pad B. From left are Thomas P. Stafford, commander; John W. Young, command module pilot; and Eugene A. Cernan, lunar module pilot. Visible through the girders of the Mobile Service Structure is the launch vehicle which will hurl them toward the Moon in a mission that is to carry Stafford and Cernan to within 50,000 feet of the lunar surface.

S69-34333 (13 May 1969) --- The three Apollo 10 astronauts suit up for a Countdown Demonstration Test at the Kennedy Space Center during preparations for their scheduled lunar orbit mission. From front to rear, are Thomas P. Stafford, commander; John W. Young, command module pilot; and Eugene A. Cernan, lunar module pilot.

S75-28547 (15 July 1975) --- The Apollo-Soyuz Test Project's (ASTP) NASA Apollo/Saturn 1B space vehicle is launched from Pad B, Launch Complex 39, Kennedy Space Center (KSC), Florida, at 3:50 p.m. (EDT), July 15, 1975, to begin Apollo's catch-up journey toward the already Earth-orbiting Soviet Soyuz spacecraft. Aboard the Apollo spacecraft were astronauts Thomas P. Stafford, Vance D. Brand and Donald K. (Deke) Slayton.

S62-06759 (1962) --- This is the second group of pilot astronauts chosen by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). These astronaut pilots are (kneeling left to right) Charles Conrad, Jr., Frank Borman, Neil A. Armstrong, and John W. Young; (standing in the back row - left to right) Elliot M. See, Jr., James A. McDivitt, James A. Lovell, Jr., Edward H. White II, and Thomas P. Stafford.

AST-05-275 (17-19 July 1975) --- Cosmonaut Aleksey A. Leonov, commander of the Soviet ASTP crew, displays a drawing of astronaut Thomas P. Stafford during the joint U.S.-USSR Apollo-Soyuz Test Project docking mission in Earth orbit. He is in the Soyuz Orbital Module. This picture was taken by an American ASTP crewman with a 35mm camera.

S69-34329 (13 May 1969) --- The prime crew of the Apollo 10 lunar orbit mission sits for photograph while at the Kennedy Space Center for preflight training. Left to right are astronauts Eugene A. Cernan, lunar module pilot; John W. Young, command module pilot; and Thomas P. Stafford, commander. In the left background is the Apollo 10 space vehicle on Pad B, Launch Complex 39, Kennedy Space Center. The three crewmen had just completed a Countdown Demonstration Test exercise.

S75-30515 (18 July 1975) --- President Gerald R. Ford watches ASTP crewmen Thomas P. Stafford, Donald K. Slayton and Valeriy N. Kubasov on television as he talks to them via radio-telephone while they orbited Earth on July 18, 1975. The American Apollo spacecraft and Soviet Soyuz spacecraft were docked. The five ASTP crewmen visited each other?s spacecraft while the Soyuz and Apollo were linked in space.

S74-20807 (23 April 1974) --- Cosmonaut Aleksey A. Leonov (foreground) is briefed on the Apollo communications test system console in the Building 440 laboratory during the joint U.S.-USSR Apollo-Soyuz Test Project training activity at the Johnson Space Center. Leonov is the commander of the Soviet ASTP crew. Leonov is being briefed by astronaut Thomas P. Stafford, commander of the American ASTP crew.

S65-44293 (15 Dec. 1965) --- Gemini-6, carrying astronauts Walter M. Schirra Jr., command pilot, and Thomas P. Stafford, pilot, was launched by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration?s John F. Kennedy Space Center at 8:37 a.m. (EST), Dec. 15, 1965. Gemini-6 completed a highly successful rendezvous mission with Gemini-7.

S69-34320 (17 May 1969) --- Ground level view of the 363-feet tall Apollo 10 (Spacecraft 106/Lunar Module 4/Saturn 505) space vehicle on Pad B, Launch Complex 39, Kennedy Space Center. The service structure is in the right foreground. The crew of the Apollo 10 lunar orbit mission will be astronauts Thomas P. Stafford, commander; John W. Young, command module pilot; and Eugene A. Cernan, lunar module pilot.

S66-15622 (January 1966) --- Portrait of the Gemini 9 prime and backup crews. Seated are the Prime crew consisting of Astronauts Elliot M. See Jr. (left), command pilot, and Charles A. Bassett II, pilot. Standing are the backup crew consisting of Astronauts Thomas P. Stafford (left), command pilot, and Eugene A. Cernan, pilot. Both crews are in space suits with their helmets on the table in front of them.

S66-34117 (6 June 1966) --- The 72-hour, 21-minute Gemini-9A spaceflight is concluded as the Gemini spacecraft, with astronaut Thomas P. Stafford and Eugene A. Cernan aboard, touches down in the Atlantic Ocean only 3.5 miles from the prime recovery ship, the aircraft carrier USS Wasp. Gemini-9 splashed down 345 miles east of Cape Kennedy at 9 a.m. (EST), June 6, 1966. Photo credit: NASA

S69-32787 (3 April 1969) --- Two members of the Apollo 10 prime crew participate in simulation activity at the Kennedy Space Center during preparations for their scheduled lunar orbit mission. Astronaut Thomas P. Stafford, commander, is in the background; and in the foreground is astronaut Eugene A. Cernan, lunar module pilot. The two crewmen are in the Lunar Module Mission Simulator.